Apple Teriyaki Salmon & Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

Want to impress someone but short on time?  This is my go to recipe that is super simple to whip up and makes a lasting impression. I first ate this dish at a Japanese restaurant and believe I've duplicated it quite well.  I haven't cooked dinner in awhile, so I wanted to make something special for Andy...he loved it.   

Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients: (for 2)
2 salmon fillets
1/4 cup of teriyaki marinade (I love Soyaki from Trader Joe's).
1 fuji apple

2 potatoes
2 tbsp. butter
2-3 tbsp. milk
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp of wasabi paste (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
salt to taste

1. Peel and quarter the potatoes. Place in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and allow potatoes to simmer until very soft, about 20 minutes. Drain water and mash potatoes with butter until smooth and fluffy. 
2. Mash garlic and wasabi paste into potatoes, pour in milk and continue to mash until mixture is light and fluffy; season with salt to taste and serve hot.
3.  Broil salmon for 8-10 minutes
4. Thinly slice apple and use to decorate plate, or chop finely and serve on top of salmon
5. Add any vegetable to your liking.

Enjoy!

A Pacific Northwest Weekend

This weekend was the kind of weekend Pacific Northwesterner's brag about.  There was not a cloud in the sky, the sun was shining, but it wasn't unbearably hot, and Mt. Rainier was out in all it's glory.

Saturday morning I woke up lakeside at the last day of Jr. High camp that Andy was speaking at.  It was a gorgeous morning and I couldn't help but be thankful. 

Andy and I spent most of the weekend just lounging and enjoying the sun--and eating watermelon.  I love watermelon in the summer, everything about that combo is just right.  Also, I'm a little browner than I was yesterday...my white, pasty skin is finally the color I'm used to. 

How was your weekend?

Back to Camp

Do you remember last year when Andy was guest speaker at camp?  Well he's back again this year, and I've been splitting my days with work and evenings at camp...needless to say it's been a little crazy.  This year Andy is speaking to Jr. High kids instead of high school.  It's so fun to watch these kids at such an awkward stage of life--I'm so glad those years are over!

Did you go to camp growing up?  What are your favorite memories?

Unexpected

Last Friday at 4pm my phone rang.  It was a good friend from San Diego, but when I answered, she was crying and at the Seattle airport..."My phone is dying...it's a long story, but can I stay with you?" she asked sobbing.  I was in my car in seconds, headed to the airport and  perplexed at why she was here.

I won't go into the details of her personal life, let's just say she had made a series of bad decisions that would have continued to lead her down a path of destruction if she hadn't called me when she landed in Seattle.  This weekend was painful and tumultuous and heartbreaking; at the same time it was filled with vulnerability, redemption and hope.  The hour by hour timing of circumstances some would call fate; but we both clearly recognized God's hand in the midst of the chaos and would call this weekend nothing short of a miracle.

Do you believe in miracles?

Mushroom Risotto & Summer Squash

Andy and I are attempting to go gluten-free.  Attempting is the key word--we're not doing that great of a job.  For health reasons, it is a choice we are slowly trying to fully incorporate into our diet.  Thankfully gluten free does not mean carb free--which is a good thing cause we love rice.  So this week I perused the internet and found a mushroom risotto recipe that I would highly recommend. This is not a recipe you can whip together and then leave the stoove...you have to pretty much stay at the stove stirring for about 20 minutes or so...just FYI.

Here's what ya need: (serves 6)
Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken broth, divided
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 pound portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 shallots, diced
• 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• sea salt to taste
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

•  3 yellow squash, sliced

 Directions

1. In a saucepan, warm the broth over low heat.
2. Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms and their liquid, and set aside.
3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, and stir in the shallots. Cook 1 minute. Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth to the rice, and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms with their liquid, butter, chives, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
5. Heat sliced squash in an oiled pan with garlic salt and pepper to taste.   

Vanity and Decisions

My entire life dentists have told me I should see an orthodontist.  I don't really have crooked teeth, but I have a crossbite that has slowly been shifting my teeth and has recently started to effect my jaw.  I always assumed braces wouldn't fix my situation unless they surgically broke my jaw.  I finally went to see an orthodontist last week.  I was surrounded by teenagers and I really didn't think I could actually go through with getting braces at my age.  I'm way to vain.

After the consultation the orthodontist felt confident that 2 years of Invisalign would solve my problems.  I figured I could deal with Invasalign...my vanity could handle clear trays verses a face full of metal.  But then he told me the cost--just under $7000.  (Braces where only $500 cheaper).  I went home to research the costs....$7000 is a bit on the high end, but this particular orthodontist is one of the best in the area, and because my teeth are a little more complex than the average person, I want to make sure it's done with some expertise.  So I went in for my fitting today...in 6 weeks I go back to actually get the trays and start my  journey to a healthier smile.

Do you know anyone who had Invisalign or braces as an adult?  Would you do it?

A Weekend Away

Our first camping trip of the summer was a success!  We went camping with another couple and had great food, great campfire talks, and truly soaked in the beautiful weather and the sounds of nature. 

 It was my first time as an adult camping in a tent...I was so spoiled in our old VW camper van.  But I managed just fine!

 We definitely roasted some marshmallows over this fire!

Campfire eggs and bacon for breakfast...my fave.

 We took a little detour to our friend's who live on an orchard to pick fresh cherries.

 A little friendly game of bocce ball

 No...we weren't exhausted; this was a food coma.

The end of a great trip!

Fingers Crossed

I know, I know, you've just been dying to know if we got the house right?  I've been hesitant to say since we were in a state of waiting for some time.  When we got the house inspected, all was going well until the very last part of the inspection.  Mr. Inspector climbed underneath the house only to find major spots of crumbling foundation.  For us that was a deal breaker, and we thought there was no way the seller was going to cover the cost to fix it. We decided to ask since we were out of options and surprisingly, we got the phone call last Friday that the seller agreed to fix the foundation and a few other items.  We couldn't believe it!  We had to wait for the long holiday to pass, and finally met with our lender yesterday to signed the paperwork.  Assuming the appraisal and all the construction goes well, we should be in our new home by August 5th!  Woohoo! 

SoCal Weekend

I'm a little late on my 4th of July recap--I'm still trying to get caught up on life after such a fun weekend in Southern California.  It started off in Los Angeles with my sister in law.  I happened to visit on what's called "First Fridays" in Venice.  Apparently the first Friday of every month dozens of gourmet food trucks line the street and hundreds (probably thousands...it was packed) of people come out to enjoy the food frenzy. 

 My sister and law and me...we share the same birthday...isn't that awesome?

It was so much fun and so amazingly delicious...If you're in Venice on the first Friday of the month, you have to check it out.  I met up with some friends in Laguna Beach who were house-sitting an unbelievably beautiful home right on the water.  I forgot how wealthy some parts of Southern California were...it's so easy to get caught up in the smoke and mirrors of image and glamour (which is why I left LA after a couple of years--and also why I immediately felt fat and un-beautiful the minute I got there!).  Fortunately I was able to focus on seeing friends I haven't seen in awhile and catching up with each others lives.  

 Can you see the view from this place??? Amazing!

The 4th was spent in San Diego at the beach, where I got a serious sun burn.  (Apparently after living in Washington for a year, my skin actually burns now.)  I got home in time to spend the evening with Andy...we opted to skip the fireworks and make our own...hehe. 

Going Back To Cali

I'm going back to California for the weekend!  Woot!  I'm flying into LA to hang out with my sister in law and then heading down to San Diego for some good girl time with some friends who I miss desperately.  It's still scarf and sweater weather in Tacoma, so I'm stoked to be able to pull out the shorts and flip flops and get a freaking tan!  (Seriously people...I've never been so white in my life!). 

How are you spending your holiday weekend?